The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has taken a significant step to ease traffic congestion on Mumbai roads by removing 84 kilometres of barricades from project sites. Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, stated that the unnecessary barricades had been removed from all ongoing Metro Projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It was mentioned in the official press statement that this decision aimed to provide substantial relief to the citizens by ensuring smoother commuting experiences during the monsoon period. A total of 33,922 barricades were removed, resulting in the clearance of 84.806 kilometres (42 km one-way) of two-way road, opening up more space for traffic. MMRDA is currently implementing a 337-kilometre long metro network throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and has installed a total of 152.86 kilometres of barricades across several metro lines, including 2B, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7A, and 9. So far, approximately 60% of these barricades have been successfully removed, clearing a total of 84.8 kilometres for traffic. Barricades had been removed from key locations such as the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), Western Express Highway (WEH), Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), S. V. Road, V.N. Purv Marg (Chembur Naka), New Link Road, Gulmohar Road, MG Road, Ghodbunder Road, Kapur Bawadi, Balkum, Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayander, Thane, Tin Hat Naka, JVLR, Infinity Mall, Powai, Kanjur Marg, and Mankhurd along the under-construction Metro lines. This strategic step cleared one lane on both sides of the project for traffic, minimising disturbance to citizens. MMRDA recognised the necessity of barricades for citizen safety during construction projects and took measures to install them in a way that occupied minimal space on the road. This effort resulted in wider roads of over 8 kilometres in length being available at specific locations, ensuring smoother traffic flow. A total of 3,352 barricades were modified as part of this restructuring. Additionally, MMRDA implemented various measures to enhance the daily routine for citizens during the monsoon season. These measures included addressing road-related issues such as filling potholes, installing motor pumps in waterlogging-prone areas for efficient drainage, and establishing a 24x7 emergency control room to promptly resolve citizen complaints. Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, stated that they were committed to minimising inconvenience to citizens during the monsoon season. Measures had been implemented to address road-related issues and ensure smooth traffic flow. Over 33 thousand barricades had been successfully removed within a month, and the project and barricades would be reviewed every 15 days. These initiatives aimed to enhance the overall experience of citizens and mitigate disruptions caused by the monsoon. Also read: Contract for Nagpur Metro phase 2 viaduct package C-01 awarded to RVNL Centre abandons Hyderabad Metro, allocates Rs 30 bn to Bengaluru Metro